STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from Staten Island/South Brooklyn, reported that she and incoming President Donald Trump had a fruitful discussion at Mar-a-Lago this past weekend.
The congressman claimed that in preparation for the impending reconciliation package, she and a group of other Republican members of the House spoke with Trump about a range of issues, such as congestion pricing, state and local tax (SALT) deductions, the World Trade Center Health Program, and more.
A fruitful discussion with President @realDonaldTrump regarding halting #NYCcongestion charges, addressing the illegal immigration situation, and offering SALT relief, among other things! Anticipating January 20th!Twitter: pic.twitter.com/9sHj6KfXeq
Congestion Pricing
Malliotakis affirmed that Trump dislikes congestion pricing and has stated his desire to have it removed with regard to the recently implemented congestion pricing for traffic in Manhattan’s Central Business District on the streets below 60th Street.
Malliotakis told the Advance/SILive.com that they are working with the president on the legal perspective for him to reverse it and are attempting to find a federal solution to a problem that was caused by the state.
He [Trump] is aware of the detrimental effects this has on the economy of New York City as well as on working families, police officers, firefighters, nurses, and restaurant employees. Individuals must go in for medical care, checkups, and chemotherapy. She clarified that this tax is crushing them.
Following a protracted period of demonstrations, legal actions, and indignation from citizens of New York and New Jersey, congestion pricing went into effect last Sunday, January 5.
Malliotakis stated that they will soon get their day in court and that a lawsuit is still pending to stop congestion charging.
Malliotakis is a plaintiff in a case against Congestion Pricing that is still pending with Vito Fossella, the president of the Staten Island Borough, and the United Federation of Teachers, according to her website. On December 23, 2024, the federal judge in that lawsuit rejected an injunction.
Congestion pricing has resulted in a lower toll than initially suggested.Drivers would have been billed $15 to enter the zone at first. Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the program’s high cost for working New Yorkers was the reason she first opposed it. Most automobiles enter the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), which is any surface street in Manhattan south of 60th Street, by paying a $9 toll under the new version.
Depending on the type of vehicle and the time of day, drivers must pay a fee to enter the CRZ.
Drivers with E-ZPass pay the following during the day, which is defined as 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends:
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Passenger vehicles (once per day): $9
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Motorcycles (once per day): $4.50
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Small trucks and non-commuter buses: $14.40
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Large trucks and sightseeing buses: $21.60
E-ZPass-less drivers will pay even more. If a driver utilizes Tolls by Mail, motorbikes must pay $6.75 and passenger cars must pay $13.50.
World Trade Center Health Program
Following a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center twin buildings in New York, firemen are seen in this September 11, 2001, file photo working beneath the demolished mullions, the vertical struts that originally faced the tall outer walls of the towers. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo, File)AP
Although the government continues to fund the WTC Health Program through 2027, a federal continuing resolution passed in December 2024 does not include financing for the program after that year.
Malliotakis previously stated to the Advance/SILive.com that one of her top priorities during her meeting with Trump was to talk about extending financing for the program past 2027.
After her discussion with Trump, she said, “I think we’ll see a solution on that in the near future.” She also discussed the matter with the incoming president. Everyone agrees that we should make sure our 9/11 heroes receive the medical attention they require.
SALT Deductions
On October 10, 2024, Representative Nicole Malliotakis addresses the editorial board of the Staten Island Advance in the Advance’s Bloomfield headquarters. Jason Paderon/Staten Island AdvancePaderon, Jason
When Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed, many New Yorkers’ SALT deduction was capped. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, SALT was first implemented in 1913 and permits taxpayers to deduct a portion of their federal taxable income from state and local income taxes, sales taxes, and/or property taxes.
The first-ever $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction was imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, causing conflict among Republicans, Democrats, and taxpayers.
Malliotakis stated that although some Democrats, like as Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer, are okay with the cap ending later this year, it won’t be entirely removed. Malliotakis is in favor of keeping the cap in place, but raising the amount that taxpayers can claim.
She also blamed Hochul and Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, for the tax load that the state and city had imposed.
Malliotakis has stated her desire to reduce the tax burdens on the elderly.
When Trump is re-elected, Malliotakis, Trump, and other House Republicans want to raise the cap, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025.
According to Malliotakis, several figures were debated on the appropriate amount to raise the cap to: It would be doubled to 20[,000] as the low number. The top figure would be 100,000; some New Yorkers are pushing for that amount. Personally, I believe that to be a bit excessive. It must be somewhere in the middle, in my opinion, if we wish to concentrate on the middle class.
Malliotakis added that they proposed restricting the property tax component to principal residences and imposing an income threshold on eligibility. Malliotakis claimed that the latter idea was her own and that when it came to SALT deductions, she had the middle class in mind.
We are not trying to help those who own Hamptons vacation homes. She clarified that we are concentrating on individuals similar to those on Staten Island.
For Malliotakis, however, the important issue is that any number that is more than what we currently have is a victory.
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